You can learn about the idea of High Speed Bracketing here. We use this technique now for exactly one year and are as excited as in the beginning. We are also teaching this technique in our workshops.

During this time we used quite a few cameras. This essay talks about our experience with these cameras in the context of High Speed Bracketing.

Aspects that are important for High Speed Bracketing

Frame Rate

3-4 fps is slow but ok

5 good

6-7 fps very good

above 8 is top class

Write Card speed (includes buffering)

The speed has to fast enough not to be in our way for relaxed no stress shooting

Highlight Priority (HPrio)

A feature in newer Canon cameras that allows more highlight headroom for highlight recovery (read more) at the cost of some more shadow noise. For us highlights are essential and we use HPrio all the time.

For other cameras you can simulate HPrio by underexposing by about 2/3 EV.

AEB (Camera Auto Exposure Bracketing)

Does the camera has support for AEB

Maximum EV spacing

Bracketing Sequences

We explain which bracketing sequences we use with the different cameras

The sequences are defined with the goal to recover in about 80-90% of all cases the normal (middle) exposure

We cover the cameras in the order we started to use them for High Speed Bracketing.

Canon 5D

Frame rate: @3 fps ok but slow

HPrio: N/A

Bracket Sequences used
(1 1/3 EV spacing)

-1 2/3, -1/3, +1

Verdict: Ok for HS Bracketing

Canon 1D Mark III

This is the camera that all started it for us.

Frame rate: @10 fps top class

HPrio: on

Bracket Sequences used
(1 1/3 EV spacing)

-1, +1/3, +1 2/3

-1 2/3, - 2/3, +1/3, 1 1/3, 2 1/3

Verdict: Excellent for HS Bracketing

Fuji S5

This camera is too slow to use AEB. But the dynamic range is so good that bracketing is only needed at a more extreme contrast ratio.

Verdict: not good for HS Bracketing (but also less need)

Canon Rebel XTi (400D)

Frame rate: @3 fps slow but ok

HPrio: N/A

Bracket Sequences used
(1 1/3 EV spacing)

-1 2/3, -1/3, +1

Verdict: Ok for HS Bracketing

Canon 40D

Frame rate: @6.5 fps very good

HPrio: on

Bracket Sequences used
(1 1/3 EV spacing)

-1, +1/3, +1 2/3

Verdict: Very Good for HS Bracketing

Nikon D300

Frame rate: @6 fps very good (can be faster with power pack)

HPrio: N/A

Bracket Sequences used
(1 EV spacing)

-1 1/3, -1/3, +2/3

Verdict: Very Good for HS Bracketing (would like to see larger EV spacing)

Canon 1Ds Mark III

The 1Ds Mark III produces a lot of data (about 25MB per RAW file).

Frame rate: @5 fps very good

HPrio: on

Bracket Sequences used
(1 1/3 EV spacing)

-1, +1/3, +1 2/3

-1, +1/3 (to reduce data volume)

Verdict: Good for HS Bracketing

Nikon D3

Frame rate: @9 fps very good

HPrio: N/A

Bracket Sequences used
(1 EV spacing)

-1 1/3, -1/3, +2/3

Verdict: Excellent for HS Bracketing (would like to see larger EV spacing)

Nikon D60

Does not support AEB.

Verdict: Not usable for HS Bracketing

Canon Rebel XSi (450D)

Frame rate: @3.5 fps slow but ok

HPrio: on

Bracket Sequences used
(1 1/3 EV spacing)

-1, +1/3, +1 2/3

Verdict: Ok for HS Bracketing

Olympus E-3

Frame rate: @5 fps good

HPrio: N/A

Bracket Sequences used
(1 EV spacing)

-1 1/3, -1/3, +2/3

Verdict: Good for HS Bracketing

Conclusion

Most of the recent cameras were well equipped for High Speed Bracketing and future cameras will even get faster. We shot over the last year at least 5000 bracketed sequences (>15K exposures).